I was wandering around Madrid’s Retiro park today, when a familiar sound faded slowly in from behind – the loud rasping crackle of a single speaker, battery-operated, hand-held radio, turned up to full volume, blaring out an evening ‘discussion’ (guests shouting at each other) program.
That’s funny I thought, the oldies usually only listen to the football on those things. One thing was clear to me though, without even having to turn round: it was a man from that generation – the generation with the portly somach, the ‘jacketigan’ (brown cardigan-jacket cross-breed), and the little battery-operated portable radio.
I stopped to let him catch up and overtake, so I could take a look and confirm what I’d already guessed – and past he went, radio clasped at chest height, as is their way, whiling away the hours until caña-time, at a favourite bar down the road.
Conchitín
4 Apr 09 at 12:21 am
It is obvious that you´re right. The funniest thing is when these people are in a bar (they usually spend long hours there), they try to resolve all the problems of the country (I mean, talking about politics and of course politicians. They are convinced that they have all the solutions in order to save the world). They normally talk to the waiter or to themselves while they´re holding a beer or a “copa de coñac” or a “carajillo”. ¡Lo que hace a veces una copita de más…!
That kind of situations are common here in Spain, but I don´t know if the same happens in other countries. Muchas gracias y que ¡Viva la radio a pilas!
RayTibbitts
4 Apr 09 at 12:30 am
Well, when you drive a taxi, you get hooked on listening to those shows, and then what else are you suposed to do when you retire? Hang out with your wife?
jennifer l
4 Apr 09 at 8:54 am
i lived there for seven years.. and i am glad to hear that that generation is still around with those radios…. i always was amazed at how much spaniards could talk and talk and talk… i learned spanish listening to all those shows on tv.. and also listening to the radio
gary
4 Apr 09 at 2:24 pm
Different in England – As a gentleman of a certain age when driving in the car it was Radio 4 or stone silence. My new car has an 1/8″ stereo input jack to the Aux input on the radio so now I can have podcasts…
A blessing
Graham
5 Apr 09 at 1:13 am
I always used to find it hilarious on Sundays when I lived in Asturias and everyone went out for the Paseo dressed up to the nines and the blokes would be carrying thier radios listening to the football while on their wife’s arm. We all know he is there on sufferance but the sop to his wellbeing is the wife lets him have the radio.
Not sure if it happens these days but it is not so much of a tradition in Spain
Graham
5 Apr 09 at 1:13 am
I meant in Valencia in the last sentence but pressed submit too quickly
Jon
5 Apr 09 at 9:21 pm
that is a lovely story. I am getting closer to being that old fella every day.
You noticed an old guy walking through the park with what we used to call a “transistor radio”. Did you notice all the walkers/joggers/runners/skaters/bikers/ who whizzed past with i-pod earphones? Were you wearing an i-pod, by any chance? I wonder what important and meaningful programs are they listening to? Here in Holland the i-pods are usually churning out a mush of “techno-dance” filled out with “smart-ass radio DJ” talk, and studio shows where unimportant celebrities laugh at their own witiness.
I can relate to the old guy.
And Gary – I love radio 4, and I feel SO lucky that I can get them on longwave here in Holland. For me, that is an intelligent radio station for adults. I listen all day, every day, when I’m working.
Ben
5 Apr 09 at 9:35 pm
@Gary – God I love Radio 4 – best thing ever about my trips to the uk is listening to it in the car as I drive around there for a few days!
@Jon – yes, all listening to iPods – when I’m old, I’ll be the oldie with the iPod and the headphones that some young bloke is blogging about!
ValenciaSon
6 Apr 09 at 12:20 pm
In the US, I’ve seen that old guy listening to the ball game on his old reliable on warm , breezy spring evenings on a porch or a stoop or at the barbershop.
Chiqui
6 Apr 09 at 5:21 pm
I don’t think I saw that when were in Madrid in 2006. A tourist like me would probably miss out on slices of daily Spanish life like that. Thanks for sharing. I got a kick from visualizing your encounter with that old man.
BrianA
6 Apr 09 at 8:52 pm
Oh dear – I’m only needing the jacketigan as I already listen to RTE5_todas_noticias on my iPod. So far mostly in bed but I feel the pull of the park. Hellllllllp…..
Ardilla
6 Apr 09 at 9:28 pm
Hola
Brian A – do you mean RNE Radio 5 Todo Noticias? If so how do you get that on your i-pod?
Hollis
6 Apr 09 at 10:32 pm
Ardilla,
You can find podcasts here on Radio España’s homepage
Chris
7 Apr 09 at 1:54 am
I’m not sure if this is becoming a trend in Madrid, but here in Burgos where I live the younger crowd does the same thing, but with cell phones that play some type of Mp3 file….
I’m not that techno-savvy so I don’t know how it’s done, but somehow the teenage crowd here in Burgos is able to make their cell phones play music which they can then listen to at normal volume without headphones as if their phone was a radio. Sometimes I’m on the bus, or walking down the street, or waiting in line at the grocery store and I hear some type of rap song blasting at full volume and look and it’s a teenager playing the music on his cell phone for all to “enjoy.” It’s sorta the “year 2009″ version of a one-speaker transistor radio.
I guess the people of the “radio generation” must have taught their grandchildren well.
Ben
7 Apr 09 at 1:32 pm
@Chris – that is indeed INFURIATING! You get it all the time on the Metro in Madrid!
@BrianA – No, no, if you’re using an iPod you’re fine
lachula
7 Apr 09 at 7:08 pm
Pues yo el otro día vi algo atroz caminando por la playa: un abuelete británico de unos 80 años lleno de tatuajes, incluídas las piernas hasta donde era visible. Y no es el primero ni el último que veré. Es repulsivo y asqueroso, pero explica de dónde os viene la tradición “hooliganesca”.
No comprendo ese tono despectivo hablando de las tertulias matinales de la radio. Puestos a comparar, mejor una tertulia radiofónica sobre política que el refrito de noticias absurdas y falsas de los tabloides.
BrianA
7 Apr 09 at 8:32 pm
@ardilla : I bought an add on that gives you 88-108 MHz FM radio on the iPod nano. I use it more than my library.
Elf
26 Apr 09 at 10:36 pm
Chill out, ‘lachula’! I’m sure Ben is only making an affectionate observation on something he, like many of us who’ve lived here for some time, sees as being peculiarly Spanish. As for his ‘tono despectivo’ re the tertulias, come on, you have to admit that radio discussions can be difficult to follow because often people do all talk/shout at the same time.